Barons neighbors pleased with first season

[lin_video src=http://eplayer.clipsyndicate.com/embed/player.js?aspect_ratio=16×9&auto_next=1&auto_start=0&div_id=videoplayer-1378439536&height=480&page_count=5&pf_id=9624&show_title=1&va_id=4294876&width=640&windows=2 service=syndicaster width=640 height=480 div_id=videoplayer-1378439536 type=script]BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)- Good People Brewing Company knew they had a good neighbor on Opening Day. The Birmingham Barons started the season strong, but some wondered if the crowds would begin to fizzle as the season wore on. “We looked for some of their bigger promotional event days to really bring in the crowds,” said Joel Harris, a Tap Room manager at GPC. “But, it’s been what we thought would be off days where some of the largest crowds showed up.”

The Barons led the Southern League in attendance, with nearly 400,000 fans over the course of the season. Even with the giant vision held by Birmingham Mayor William Bell, nobody believed the new downtown stadium would be THAT successful. “It went beyond my dreams,” said Mayor Bell, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Barons play-off opener. “We had a lot of discussions about building the parks, but more importantly, what it would take to attract people to come here.”

The overwhelming attendance numbers have bode well for Good People. “It’s allowed us to buy a new bright tank and fermentors thanks to the ball park crowds,” said Harris. “We’ve re-invested that into building our business for the future.”